History
The Sadness of an Impotent King
“The king’s sole remaining function was to sit back on his throne with flowing hair, his beard uncut, satisfied with the name of king and the appearance of ruling.” […]
Western Europe
Violence
Sworn through Sword
“Both lances were broken. They both leapt off their horses and drew their swords. They came together and fought so bravely that neither wanted to flee from the other, not even as far as a foot is wide.” […]
History
Charlemagne the Big-Hearted
“Say, sire, what grief doth your heart oppress?”
“To ask,” he said, “brings worse distress; I cannot but weep for heaviness. […]
History
Roland’s Mighty Blow
“Down through the saddle with gold inlaid, till sank in the living horse the blade, severed the spine where no joint was found, and horse and rider lay dead on ground.”
[…]
Britons and Celts
Everybody’s Heard of Merlin
“Even that rustic prophet Merlin, a marvelous visionary who foretold the whole future of the English, spoke well of him in a mighty proclamation with a fine and truthful style.” […]
Supernatural
High-Stakes World of Smith Apprenticeship
“If the dwarfs want to murder you before I come back, take the sword and defend yourself with it, and let me find out that I have a son and not a daughter.” […]